Creating artwork is both a very relaxing and very stressful activity for me. I don’t do it as often as I should, but when I do, I try to make the work something special.

Recently I have begun to notice similar trends between how my sketching process plays out compared to other projects I get involved in. In fact, the similarity is so much so that it’s kind of scary. There exist parallels between projects of different kinds, and by understanding my own sketches I’ve come to see how I handle most projects.

Stand up and take a walk from one side of the room to the other. Now, do it again, but this time focus on the technique of your walking. How your hip flexors slightly lift your leg off the ground. How your back foot pushed off the toe and the front comes down on its heel.

More than likely your second trip will be more awkward than the first. It can be difficult to think about an activity while your performing it, and many activities are so ingrained that we don’t need to think about it unless something impedes our normal technique.

This state of action without thinking is a prized possession because of the way it allows our mind to flow freely, and according to many eastern philosophies is the goal of meditation.

Are you one of those nicey-nicey people? Constantly smiling at others, asking them how their day went and so on and so forth? Willing to let things that irk you slide in order to make the day move a little more smoothly?

Congrats, you are probably a normal person. Most of us do not like to get involved in too much drama on a daily basis.

Conflict is exhausting, emotionally, mentally, and physically. You let things go because jumping into the fray just takes too much out of you.